Daffin Backstrom


Daffin Theodore "Swede" Backstrom was an American football, basketball and baseball player and coach.

Playing career

Drew University

Backstrom played college baseball and basketball at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where he is a member of the schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

Minor league baseball

Backstrom played in minor league baseball as a pitcher. In 1940 he was with the Akron Yankees in the Middle Atlantic League. Later that year and also in 1941 he played for Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Canadian–American League.

Coaching career

Drew University

After graduating from Drew University and spending some time in the private sector, Backstrom returned to Drew to first be the assistant and later head baseball coach.

Kansas Wesleyan

Backstrom was the 14th head football coach at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas, serving for the 1962 season. His coaching record at Kansas Wesleyan was 1–7–1.
While at Kansas Wesleyan, Backstrom taught classes for the history department. In 1996, the school inducted him into their "Athletic Hall of Fame" for his coaching success. He was active as a coach and or administrator at the school from 1954 through 1963.